Pandita Ramabai Establishing the Sharada Sadan

Pandita Ramabai was one of India’s most influential women reformers. She paved the way for the welfare and education of Indian widows and defied various social norms to emerge as a champion of women's rights throughout the country.

Ramabai came into contact with Dean Bodley of the Women's Medical College in 1886, who inspired her to work in America. She then began studying the American School system and their conventions.In 1887, she went on to publish her second full-length book: The High-Caste Hindu Woman, the first Indian feminist manifesto. She also successfully lobbied for aid to start a secular school intended for child widows in India, and formed the The Ramabai Association, which pledged 10 years of financial support for her cause.

On February 1, 1889, Ramabai returned to India, and within a month, established Sharada Sadan, or the ‘Home of Learning’ in Bombay with 2 students. Under the Mukti Mission, the school quickly grew, and transferred to Poona. In 1891, the school began to face controversy as Indian reformers began to condemn Ramabai for preaching Christianity to students. Despite the condemnation, the school was a resounding success with 39 widows and 9 widows in 1896.

Her daughter, Manoramabai, also established a new school and in 1919, government recognition was finally granted to the Sharada Sadan School.